What to do if you constantly feel knee pain from driving

Driving a vehicle means sitting in a sedentary position for long periods of time, only slightly moving your hands and feet. And while many people may find driving to be relaxing, sitting in the driver’s seat can actually be the cause of pain for some people. 

There are many drivers who develop knee pain, both during and after a trip. One of the most influential factors in developing knee pain from driving is the length of the trip. The longer you’re on the road, the more likely you are to feel the effects in your knee, especially if you’re behind the wheel for more than six hours at a time.

If you’re feeling pain in your knee after your daily commute to work or driving out of town on the weekends, there are a couple of possible causes to consider.

Patellar tendinitis can cause knee pain during long driving trips

As we already mentioned, driving involves staying in the same spot without moving much of your body. This limited mobility can cause your knee joints to become inflamed. 

Long-distance drivers, especially truck drivers, may develop patellar tendinitis, which is nicknamed as jumper’s knee or truck driver’s knee. Patellar tendinitis refers to an inflammation of the patella tendon, which connects your kneecap to your shin. This tendon can become strained due to repeated foot motions on the gas, brake and clutch.

The inflammation can cause knee pain both behind the wheel and after you get out of the car.

Poor posture can cause knee pain from driving

Poor posture while driving can also be the cause of your knee pain. If you’re not positioning your body correctly while you’re behind the wheel, you may be increasing the strain on your knee. It’s important that your knee is in a proper position to comfortably reach the gas, brake and clutch.

Your hips should be aligned with your knees. Also, your foot shouldn’t be at an angle greater than 30 degrees from your knee while using the pedals. You have to ensure that your knees are positioned over the edge of the seat so that they have as much of a range of motion as possible.

How to alleviate knee pain from driving

Due to the amount of time a driver can spend behind the wheel over the course of a lifetime, it’s important to know how to manage knee pain from driving. There are a few options that can not only alleviate the knee pain you’re currently experiencing, but also prevent the pain from flaring up in the future.

• Take a break — It’s important to stretch your muscles and mobilize your joints after long periods of time in the same position. During a long road trip, try to take breaks whenever possible. Give yourself a chance to walk around when you get gas or stop for food.
• Use the RICE method — If you continue to feel knee pain after your driving trip is over, you can always turn to the tried-and-true RICE method, which stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation. These four steps can be incredibly effective for alleviating knee pain.
• Go to physical therapy — Knee pain is one of the main reasons why people seek out physical therapy. A physical therapist can provide techniques and exercises that can ease your pain as well as teach you how to manage it in the future.

3 physical therapy methods for knee pain from driving

There are quite a few physical therapy techniques that can help you work through the knee pain you may feel from driving. Here are three possible options that a physical therapist may use:

• Manual therapy — The method of manual therapy allows a therapist to use hands-on techniques to alleviate muscle tension and improve joint mobility in your knee. Manual therapy can include muscle energy techniques, soft tissue mobilization and strain-counterstrain processes.
• IASTM — Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization refers to the use of specialized stainless steel tools that can help issues like patellar tendinitis. These tools not only help to alleviate pain, but they also reduce inflammation, boost mobility and increase blood flow to help the knee heal. 
• Exercises — A physical therapist can teach you exercises to help reduce knee pain by stretching and strengthening your muscles. Additionally, they can walk you through balance exercises to improve your posture, which may be the cause of your knee pain.

Advent Physical Therapy can help alleviate knee pain from driving

If you feel like your knee pain from driving is persistent or worsening, then it’s time to book a physical therapy appointment with a physical therapist at Advent Physical Therapy. We have a team of compassionate physical therapists who can work with you to reach your wellness goals.

Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.